Notes and Editorial Reviews

Jan Peerce was born Jacob Pincus Perelmuth in New York City. As a child he studied the violin and entered the choir of the Jewish Synagogue. He also earned some pocket money as "Pinky Pearl" playing at weddings and in hotels. When Radio City Music Hall was opened in 1932, he started his career as a highly popular radio singer where his repertory included everything from popular songs to Puccini and Wagner. Upon hearing the tenor in excerpts of "Walkure" during one of these radio shows, Arturo Toscanini's interest in this promising new singer was aroused, a meeting was arranged and the conductor finally offered Peerce the tenor part in Beethoven's 9th Symphony in 1938. Soon after, he made his Met debut in "La Traviata." Up until the lateRead more seventies, the tenor remained active as a concert singer and was still touring actively. In 1984, he fell ill and died shortly thereafter on December 15th, 1984. Read less